Wrench.



.W. TANKERSLEY.

' WRENCH.

APPUCATION FILED JUNE 5, 198 13%,243. Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET Qvwam to z W. TANKERSLEY.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED LUNE 5.191s.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNETED STATES PATENT @FFIOE.

"WILLIAM TANKERSLEY, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR'OF ONE-TENTH TO HENRY SACHS, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, AND ONE-TENTH TO DR. FRANK FI NNEY, OF LA JUNTA, COLORADO.

WRENCH.

Spccification'of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed June 5, 1918. Serial No. 238,307.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lViLLL-UL TANKERSLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at (olorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State of Coiorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vrenches, or which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improveiliLiiis; in wrenches and it is an object of theinvention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which is so constructed as to especially adapt the same for use in connection with motor driven vehicles and the like.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a shank consisting of a plurality of sections connected for relative angular adjustment together with means for locking said sections in their various arrangements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrench includ ing a shank consisting of relatively adjusted sections and wherein each of said sections is provided with a pair of work engaging jaws one movable relative to the other.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved wrench including means whereby a lever or handle may be engaged therewith for increasing the purpose during the operation of the wrench and wherein said lever or handle is also capable of use as a screw driver.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrench provided with an opening in the shank thereof through which a handle or lever. is adapted to be disposed when it is desired to facilitate the rotation of the wrench about an axis disposed longitudinally thereof and wherein said handle or lever is provided with a cross head engageable Within the opening when it is desired to impart swinging movement to the shank.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im proved wrench whereby certain important structed in accordance with an embodiment.

of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in edge elevation of my improved wrench as herein embodied, the coacting handle or lever being shown engaged therewith; y

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of my improved wrench with the sections thereof in folded relation and the handle or lever engaged therewith in a second position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substam tially on the line -i4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through my improved wrench as herein disclosed;

Fig. (5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substan-\ tially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings S denotes the shank of my improved wrench which consists of two sections 1 and 2. The inner end of the section 1 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced wings or leaves 3 which extend beyond a face of the section 1 and which are substantially circular in contour and of equal radii.

Snugly fitting between the wings or leaves 3 is a substantially circular head 4 carried by the inner end of the section 2 and disposed through the axial center of the wings or leaves 3 and thehead is the pin 5 whereby the sections land 2 are pivotally connected so that said sections may be angular-1y adjusted one relative to the ether. The periphery of the head 4 terminates a material distance inwardly of-the periphery of the wings or leaves 3 so that in practice the peripheral portion of the head 4 will formed in the pawl 9.

such length to permit the pawl 9 to slide of the recess or channel 8.

and more particularly the outer be protected 6 produced or entrance ends of the recesses in the periphery of said head.

The inner end of the section 2 at opposite sides of the head 4 is provided with the in- Wardly directed ribs? which overlie the marginal portions of the wings or leaves 3 whereby said wings or leaves are materially reinforced during a working operation.

The face of the section 1 beyond which the wings or leaves 3 extend is provided with a longitudinally disposed recess or channel 8 open at the inner end of the section 1 and in which is mounted a slidable pawl 9. The outer end of the pawl 9 is slightly offset as at 10 in a direction away from the section 1 and terminates in the cross bar 11 which is adapted to enter within a pair of recesses 12 cut in the wings of leaves 3 radially along the section 1. Intersecting the recess or channel 8 is a pin l t which also extends through the slot 15 The slot 15 is of longitudinally of the recess or channel 8 but at the same time limits the rearward sliding movement thereof by contact of the end wall of said slot with the pin 14. The pin 14 also serves to maintain the pawl 9 in applied position within the recess or channel 8. The recesses 12 are of such depth and the pin 14 is so positioned relative to the wings or leaves 3 to prevent complete withdrawal of the cross bar 11 from the recesses 12 so that the pawl 9 is efi'ectivelyheld against accidental displacement. The pawl 9 can only be removed after the pin 11 has been with drawn.

The inner end of the pawl 9 is provided with a lug 16 which affords amounting for an end portion of a coil spring 17. The opposite end portion of the spring 17 is seated within a recess 18 formed in the inner end The spring 17 constantly urges the pawl 9 toward the wings or leaves-3 so that the bar 11 will be received within the recess 6 when brought in register with the recesses 12 so that the sections 1 and may be effectively locked in alinement or at different relative angles as occasioned by the requirements of practice and as permitted by the recesses 6.

The outer end portion of the section 1 i is provided with a pair of laterally directed jaws a and b one movable relative to the other and which project beyond the section 1 in the same general direction as the wings or leaves 3. The jaw a is fixed and forms a part of the head 19 and the jaw b is adjusted relative to the jaw 11 through the medium of the worm 20 rotatably supported within the recess or pocket 21 formed in the head 19 and coacting in a conventional manner with the threads 22 on the stem or shank 23 of thejaw'b. It is to be noted that the threads 22 are materially long which results in greater strength and with the possibility of the threads being stripped substantially entirely eliminated.

The outer endof the section 2 is also provided with a head '34- providcd with the jaws c and (Z for relative movement transversely of the shank S and in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of relative movement between the jaws c and b. The jaws c and (l also extend outwardly from the section S in a direction longitudinally of the section 1.' The jaw c is stationary while the jaw (Z is adapted to be moved relative to the jaw c through the medium of the worm 25 in substantially the same manner as hereinbc-fore recited relative to the jaw 7).

In practice it has been found of advantage to have the. section 1 of a length substantially one-half the length of the section 2 and by this provision in conjunction with the pivotal connection between the sections 1 and 2 it is possible with my improved device to employ the same with particular convenience in connection with an automobile as it is possible to have ready acccss to the various nuts and bolts irrcspta-tive of the position of the workman. In order to facilitate the sliding movement of the pawl 9. the opposite ends of the bar 11 are provided with the heads 27 having their outer surface roughened or knurled. The heads 27 serve as finger grips whereby movement of the pawl against the action of the spring 17 is facilitated. The end portion of each of the heads 27 overlies the side face of the section 1 while the opposite end portion overlies a side face of the second section when the sections are at th limit of their inward folding movement or substantially in parallelism. \Vhen the sections 1 and 2 are at the limit of their inward folding movement or substantially in parallel relation the jaws a and 71 are adapted to straddle the section 2 whereby the sections 1 and 2 are effectively held against relative lateral move ment and the head 19 and the jaws a and 1') carried thereby serve as a shield to protect the hand when the jaws and (Z are used and the sections 1 and are folded.

Under certain conditions it is desired that the handle or lever L be employed for imparting the requisite turning or swinging movement to the shank S and for this purpose the section 1 adjacent the head 21 is provided with an opening 28 having the opposite ends thereof transversely enlarged or chamfered as indicated at 29. The handle or lever L is il'iscrtiblc through said opening when it is desired to rotate the shank about substantially its longitudinal axis and particularly when the jaws u and l) are being used. By having the opposite end portions of the openings 28 transversely enlarged or chamfered the removal of the handle, or lever L or its equivalent is facilitated particularly in the event said handle or lover I; should be bent during the working operation.

As herein. disclosed one end portion of the handle or lever L is beveled as at 30 to permit its use as a screw driver so that said handle or lever L may have its individual function or duty. The opposite end portion of the handle or lever L is provided with a cross head C. Either arm 31 of the cross head C may be disposed through the opening 28 and the inner end portion of each of said arms is enlarged-'-to fit within an end portion of the opening 28 so that the handle or lever L may be employed with convenience and facility for imparting the requisite swinging movement to the shank S particularly when the jaws 0 and d are engaged with the workw The recesses. 6 have their side walls preferably parallel so that the sections 1 and 2 are effectively locked by the pawl S) or more particularly the bar 11 carried thereby irrespective of the direction of the strain or stress imposed upon the shank S. It is also to be understood that the recesses G are to be of a number which best meets the requirements of practice and are herein disclosed as six in number. It

I is also to be'noted that the wings or leaves 3 and the coacting head 4; are of such configm'ation as to permit a maximum swinging Z'IIOVQD'iOiil? of the sections 1 of substantially 270.

It has also been found of advantage to provide'the bottom of the recess of channel 8 at the open end thereof with the out standing rib 32 outer end of said recess or channel 8 and serves as a reinforcement and material aid in bracing the section 1 adjacent its pivotal connection.

The present application is filed as a sub stitute and partly in continuationof my application for Letters Patent filed hiay 15, 1917, Serial No. 168737, allowed January 26,1918.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it maybe assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from "the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. A, wrench comprising a shank formed .the shank sections and resiliently which partially closes the arrangen'xent and formation from two straightsections, a hinge joint connecting the sections to permit the fold ing of the same in close parallel relation to each other or.the adjustment thereof at intermediate angles, a spring held latch rarri'ed by one of the sections for locking the hinge joint and having lateral extensions terminating in finger engaging heads projecting beyond opposite sides of the shank and adapted to overlap the sections thereof when in close parallel relation to each other, and a jaw head on the outer end of one seetiop and adapted to straddle the other section when both sections are in close parallel relation to each other. p

2. A wrench comprising in combination, a. shank consisting of two sections, a hinge joint therebetween to fold thesections one upon the other or at intermediate angles, one of thehinge joint members having a series of recesses, a slidable pawl carried by one of pressed into engagement with a. recess to positively hold the sections in one of their relative positions, finger grips carried by the pawl to retract the slidable pawl to release the sections, said grips extending beyond opposite sides of the shank and overlapping the second shank section when the sections are in close folded relation, and wrench heads on the free extremities of the sections.

3. In a foldable wrench, a shank element having a notched head at one end, a second shank element having spaced wings at one end between which the notched head is mounted for pivotal movement, the second shank element having a channel therein, a pawl slidably mounted in the channel for movement into and out of position to engage in the notches of the head, the wings of the second. shank element having slots therein and in which the pawl is constantly seated, said pawl having finger grips lying outwardly of the wings of the second shank element, said grips overlapping the first shank element when both of the elements are in closely folded relation. a spring arranged to urge the pawl toward the head of the first shank element, and means for holding the pawl in applied position, said means also serving to limit the movement of the pawl away from the head.

4:. A wrench of the character described, comprising two shank sections, an end portion of one of the sections being provided with spaced wings, an end portion of the second section being provided with a head insertible between the wings of the first section, means for pivotally connecting the wings and head, the periphery of-the' head terminating inwardly oi the periphery of the wings, said head being provided with peripheral recesses, a pawl carried by the first section and coacting with the recesses of the head for holding the sections against movement about their pivotal connection,

h'a'nk section and overlapping ilie'seeond' shank section when both of said I folded relation and webs om- 'ied bythe second section and overlying the Wings of the first named. section.

sections are in',el0se1y WILLIAM TANKERSLEY.

Witnesses MARIE RIcKAnns, HELEN J. COOK. 

